If you’ve ever received a package in the mail that you didn’t order, you could be the victim of a brushing scam.
What is a Brushing Scam?
A brushing scam is an online scam in which a seller or third-party sends unsolicited packages to individuals. The packages usually contain cheap items such as phone cases, small items or trinkets, or even nothing at all. What the individual doesn’t know is that the sender has created a fake account on Amazon or another e-commerce website using that individual’s name and address. They are using an address they probably found online to make it appear that you are a verified buyer of the merchandise. After the item is sent, the sender writes positive reviews for their own products, making it seem like the recipient purchased and enjoyed the item.
Sellers, usually from foreign countries, will try to boost their ratings and increase their visibility as an Amazon seller or other online marketplaces by using the brushing scam. Amazon and other e-commerce marketplaces usually elevate items with more positive reviews because they help to build trust and credibility for the item with potential customers. By posting fake reviews, scammers can trick potential customers into thinking that their products are high quality and worth purchasing.
How Exactly Does a Brushing Scam Work?
From the customer perspective, a brushing scam usually works like this:
- You receive an unsolicited package in the mail. The package may contain something small, like seeds, or even nothing at all. It probably seems weird, but harmless.
- A few days later, you might receive an email from the seller thanking you for your purchase and asking you to leave a review.
- That’s when you probably log into your real account and check your bank account and credit card. It doesn’t appear that there are any orders or charges made to your account.
- You receive more unsolicited packages in the mail, and the cycle repeats.
Why be concerned about brushing scams?
It’s free stuff that showed up on your doorstep. There doesn’t seem to be any harm to your account, so why should you be worried?
The company sending the products got your name and mailing address, and have now set up a fake account using this information. What other information might they have – your social security number, bank account, or passwords? The biggest worry is that someone might have gained access to your personal information. This might mean that criminals have cracked your passwords and can get into your online accounts. The more information they have about you, the more damage a cyber criminal can do. With access to financial information, they can drain your account or run up charges on credit cards they’ve established in your name.
What are Amazon and other E-Commerce Retailers Doing about it?
Amazon has said that it takes brushing scams seriously and is committed to protecting its customers from this type of fraud. Amazon has provided some guidance to customers on how to identify and report brushing scams.
According to Amazon, customers should be suspicious of any unsolicited packages, especially if they don’t see any orders on their account or if it comes from an unknown seller. Customers should check their accounts for suspicious activity and report any unauthorized charges or transactions to Amazon immediately through their account. Additionally, Amazon said it has implemented safeguards to prevent brushing scams from occurring on its platform, such as restrictions on who can leave product reviews, in order to prevent fake reviews from being posted.
Can you keep the stuff you get in the mail?
While the items you get in the mail from a brushing scam are usually nearly worthless, if you do receive something you didn’t order, you are allowed to keep it – according to guidance from the Federal Trade Commission. According to the FTC, federal laws prohibit people from sending you merchandise that you didn’t order and then charging you for it.
What to do if you think you’re part of a brushing scam
If you receive an unsolicited package in the mail and suspect you might be the victim of a brushing scam, here’s what you can do:
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- It if is delivered USPS, don’t open the package. Instead, return it to the sender unopened. You can write “Return to Sender” on the package and put it back in the mailbox. Although it might be more difficult to return
- Check your bank account or credit card statement to make sure that no charges have been made to your account. Look for any suspicious purchases or withdrawals. If criminals have access to your online accounts, they might seek to drain your bank account or rack up credit card charges. If you notice anything suspicious, immediately contact your credit card provider and bank.
- Change your passwords. If the scammer has your personal information, they may try to access your real e-commerce accounts. They’ll often use the information they have and try to match it up with data that’s been stolen in other data breaches. For example, if they have an email address, they can see what passwords that email address was using when it was breached. It’s safer to change your passwords to something strong and unique to protect your accounts. You can use a password manager, such as NordPass or Keeper to help you create and save unique and strong passwords for all your accounts.
- Report the scam. Contact the retailers if you are involved in a brushing scam. So if it’s from Amazon, contact Amazon’s customer service department. Amazon can then perform an investigation and take action against the scam company. You can also report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which can help prevent the scammer from targeting other people.
If you receive an unsolicited package in the mail and it appears to be a brushing scam it’s important to be cautious and take action. Don’t open the package, check your accounts for suspicious activity, change your passwords, and report the scam. By taking these steps, you can protect yourself from this type of scam and help stop these scammers from targeting other people or spreading fake reviews.